Various divers have again joined BICREF’s project this year in which SCUBA divers or people snorkelling enjoy their experience with a difference i.e. observe and record organisms spotted. Each diver can contribute by recording observations through this BICREF Biodiversity Project that has been running since 2002 (ecotourism year).

Both locals and foreigners have already taken part in this environmental diving allowing participants to contribute to biodiversity monitoring and awareness.

All SCUBA shops in the Maltese Islands have been invited to participate in this project by encouraging their divers to forward their observations to BICREF through its slates and forms, so anyone diving with any local SCUBA school can also contribute by filling up the BICREF biodiversity slate forms after each dive and forwarding it to the SCUBA school, which in turn will forward them to BICREF.

This year’s data will join that of previous years thus allowing a valuable databank of information to increase on what species are still found where and those that are no longer spotted.

This will prove increasingly valuable in allowing BICREF to put forward recommendations for marine conservation management.

This year the AWARE foundation sponsored the production of the latest slates and forms so that all diving schools have their own set.

With a small effort from all we can make a great difference to coastal biodiversity appreciation and data collection. Both locals and visitors are invited to join.

Anyone interested in joining these BICREF conservation projects can do so by contacting BICREF on bicref@nextweb.net. mt